Electronic image pickup apparatus

ABSTRACT

This electronic image pickup apparatus converts a subject image formed by an image-taking optical system into an electrical signal. In order to realize miniaturization by efficiently arranging components in the apparatus, this apparatus includes a plurality of electrical boards which have respective component sides parallel to a principal plane of the apparatus body having a flat shape and which are arranged so as to be spaced apart at a predetermined interval from the principal plane of the body. A plurality of power supply batteries are arranged in the apparatus so that the axial direction of the plurality of power supply batteries are parallel to the component sides of these electrical boards in a space sandwiched by this plurality of electrical boards. A relay board is arranged in a space between a lens barrel which holds the image-taking optical system and the plurality of power supply batteries and connects the plurality of electrical boards.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application is a divisional under 37 C.F.R. §1.53(b)of prior application Ser. No. 09/271,531 filed Mar. 18, 1999 by TakashiINOUE entitled ELECTRONIC IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to an electronic image pickupapparatus, and in particular, to an arrangement of internal componentsfor the miniaturization of the electronic image pickup apparatus byefficiently arranging an electrical board and a power supply battery.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Recently, electronic image pickup apparatuses such as anelectronic still camera have become popular. A camera of this type isconstructed so that the camera may record an image signal, imageinformation, and the like as outputted from an image pickup means suchas a CCD.

[0006] In such an electronic image pickup apparatus, many electricalcomponents are used. Among these electrical components, a large-sizedelectrical board is used as compared with those used in a conventionalcamera using a silver halide film.

[0007] In addition, it is common to use a plurality of dry battery cellsas a power supply in a conventional electronic image pickup apparatus.Therefore, the space that these components occupy in the apparatusinevitably becomes large.

[0008] With respect to conventional electronic image pickup apparatuses,various apparatuses have been proposed, for example, the apparatusdisclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-186768, andhave been put into practical use. In the apparatus as disclosed above, abattery chamber is arranged inside a holding part provided in an endpart of the apparatus, a plurality of power supply batteries iscontained therein, and a plurality of electrical boards are arranged ata different location from the battery chamber so that the plurality ofelectrical boards may be positioned parallel to an internal surface inthe front side of the apparatus.

[0009] The size of an electrical board arranged inside an electronicimage pickup apparatus is a major factor in determining the exteriorsize of the apparatus itself.

[0010] According to the conventional means disclosed in JapaneseUnexamined Patent Publication No. 8-186768 and the like, a batterychamber is provided in an end part of the apparatus. Hence, it is notpossible to arrange a large-sized electrical board and the like nearthis battery chamber.

[0011] In addition, according to the means disclosed in the publication,each member of the image pickup system, such as a picture-taking lensand an imager, is unitized and is arranged at a position independentfrom a body part of the electronic image pickup apparatus. Therefore, ifthis arrangement is adopted, there arises a problem that the apparatusbecomes large-sized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] A first object of the present invention is to provide anelectronic image pickup apparatus that is actually miniaturized byefficiently arranging the internal components of the electronic imagepickup apparatus.

[0013] A second object of the present invention is to provide anelectronic image pickup apparatus that can be miniaturized withoutvarious essential functions of the electronic image pickup apparatusbeing impaired. Approaches for achieving this object are to sufficientlysecure a space necessary for arranging components such as an electricalboard inside the electronic image pickup apparatus, and to efficientlyarrange a power supply battery inside a body of the apparatus withoutwastefulness.

[0014] Briefly, a first embodiment of the present invention provides anelectronic image pickup apparatus that converts a subject image formedby an image-taking optical system into an electrical signal by using animager. The apparatus comprises a plurality of electrical boards thathave respective component sides parallel to a principal plane of theapparatus body and which have a flat shape and are arranged so as to bespaced apart at predetermined intervals, a plurality of power supplybatteries arranged so that the axial direction of the plurality of powersupply batteries may be parallel to the component sides of theseelectrical boards in a space sandwiched by this plurality of electricalboards, and a relay board that is arranged in a space between a lensbarrel holding the image-taking optical system and the plurality ofpower supply batteries and connects the plurality of electrical boards.

[0015] In addition, a second embodiment of the present inventionprovides an electronic image pickup apparatus constructed according tothe first embodiment of the electronic image pickup apparatus andfurther comprising a strobe flashing unit arranged on an upper surfaceof the body, and a capacitor for strobe flashing arranged in a spaceunder the strobe flashing unit and between the lens barrel and aninternal side wall of the body.

[0016] Furthermore, a third embodiment of the present invention is anelectronic image pickup apparatus constructed according to the secondembodiment of the electronic image pickup apparatus, wherein the axialdirection of the capacitor for strobe flashing is approximately parallelto the component sides of the electrical boards.

[0017] A fourth embodiment of the present invention is constructedaccording to the first embodiment of the electronic image pickupapparatus, wherein an electrical board arranged in the side of theapparatus which is placed near a subject, relative to the remainder ofthe plurality of electrical boards, has a power supply circuit mountedthereto, and further has a notched part for avoiding interference withthe lens barrel.

[0018] A fifth embodiment of the present invention is constructedaccording to the first embodiment of the electronic image pickupapparatus, further comprising a plurality of connecting terminalsinstalled at predetermined positions on the plurality of electricalboards and arranged so that some of the plurality of connectingterminals may be exposed to the exterior of the body, and an element forattaching a tripod arranged in a space that is surrounded by theplurality of connecting terminals and forming part of a bottom part ofthe body.

[0019] A sixth embodiment of the present invention is constructedaccording to the fifth embodiment of the electronic image pickupapparatus, wherein a connecting terminal installed on the electricalboard among the plurality of connecting terminals is a power inputterminal for supplying power from an external power supply.

[0020] The above and further objects and advantages of the presentinvention will appear more fully from the following detaileddescription.

[0021] The present invention can provide an electronic image pickupapparatus that is miniaturized by efficiently arranging the internalcomponents in the electronic image pickup apparatus.

[0022] In addition, the present invention can sufficiently secure aspace necessary for arranging components such as an electrical boardinside the electronic image pickup apparatus, and can efficientlyarrange a power supply battery inside the body of the apparatus withoutwastefulness. Therefore, the present invention can provide an electronicimage pickup apparatus that can be miniaturized without variousessential functions of the electronic image pickup apparatus beingimpaired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of anelectronic image pickup apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0024]FIG. 2 is a drawing showing an internal arrangement of theprincipal members as viewed from the front of the electronic imagepickup apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

[0025]FIG. 3 is a drawing showing the internal arrangement of theprincipal members as viewed from the top of the electronic image pickupapparatus shown in FIG. 1; and

[0026]FIG. 4 is a drawing showing the internal arrangement of theprincipal members as viewed from the right side of the electronic imagepickup apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] First, various components provided inside an electronic imagepickup apparatus of this embodiment will be described below.

[0028] The electronic image pickup apparatus 1 comprises: an image 21that converts a subject image formed by a picture-taking lens system 13as shown in FIG. 1 into an electrical signal and is composed of, forexample, a CCD and the like; a picture-taking circuit 22 for performingpredetermined image processing (preprocessing) for an image signalconverted by the imager 21; an A/D converter 23 for converting the imagesignal (analog signal), outputted from the picture-taking circuit 22into a digital signal; memory 24 such as a buffer memory for temporarilyrecording image information converted into the digital signal; a D/Aconverter 25 for converting the digital signal recorded in the memory 24into an analog signal in an optimum state for displaying the image on apicture display unit, that is, an LCD monitor 17 that is a reflectiveliquid crystal display unit which is small and has low powerconsumption; an LCD driver 26 for performing drive control of the LCDmonitor 17; a compression/decompression circuit 27 that performscompression processing so as to make it possible to record the digitalimage signal recorded in the memory 24 onto a recording medium 11 suchas a memory card and performs decompression processing so as to restorethe image signal recorded on the recording medium 11 in a compressedstate to a signal in a form such that various types of image processingcan be performed; a memory card slot 6 which is a recording medium portcomposed of a mount port used for mounting the recording medium 11, acard I/F (an electrical circuit), and the like; a serial connectingterminal 8 for mounting connection means such as a connection cable forelectrically connecting the apparatus 1 to an external peripheral device(not shown) such as a personal computer; a serial interface (I/F) 28composed of an electrical circuit for connecting the serial connectingterminal 8 to the compression/decompression circuit 27 and the like; aD/A converter 29 for converting the digital image signal recorded in thememory 24 into an analog signal in an optimum state for performingprocessing in an external piece of equipment (not shown) which canprocess a video signal and the like, such as a TV monitor; a videoconnecting terminal 7 for mounting connection means such as a connectioncable for electrically connecting the apparatus 1 to the externalequipment; a video interface (I/F) 30 composed of an electrical circuitfor connecting the video connecting terminal 7 to the D/A converter 29and the like; an external power input terminal 9 for supplying powerfrom an external power supply; a power supply battery 18 such as aplurality of dry cells to be contained inside the apparatus 1; aswitching circuit 32 of power supply routes that performs switchingbetween two lines of the power supply means, that is, the power supplybattery 18 and the external power input terminal 9; a DC/DC converter 33for converting a power supply voltage supplied thereto; a mode LCD 35that is a display means for displaying an operation mode of theapparatus 1 and the settings of different functions so as to make itpossible to visually identify the mode and settings; a strobe unit 37that is an auxiliary light source and is composed of a strobe flashingunit 15, a capacitor 16 for strobe flashing, a strobe circuit 31, andthe like; respective members such as operating switches 36 composed of aplurality of input switches for inputting various input signals to theapparatus 1, and the like; and a system controller 34 that is a controlmeans for controlling the entire apparatus 1.

[0029] In addition, the electrical members among the above-describedmembers are mounted on a plurality of electrical boards which will bedescribed later, and are arranged at predetermined positions inside theapparatus 1.

[0030] Furthermore, the above-described operating switches 36 are aplurality of input switches provided for specifying various functions tothe control means such as the system controller 34, and for operatingand controlling the electronic image pickup apparatus 1 by commandingvarious operations. The operating switches 36 are formed as, forexample, a release SW for giving a command for executing image pickupoperation, a mode transfer SW for giving a command for switching anoperation mode, and the like.

[0031] In a conventional electronic image pickup apparatus, it is commonto provide a liquid crystal display unit with a back light as thepicture display unit. However, this liquid crystal display unit with theback light has problems in that the unit is thick in the depth directionand power consumption thereof is large.

[0032] In the electronic image pickup apparatus 1 of this embodiment, asdescribed above, a reflective liquid crystal display unit is used as thepicture display unit (LCD monitor 17). Since this reflective liquidcrystal display unit is constructed so that an image can be displayedusing outdoor daylight, a back light is not necessary. In addition, itis possible to miniaturize the apparatus and to easily reduce powerconsumption. Therefore, in the electronic image pickup apparatus 1 ofthis embodiment, the reflective liquid crystal display unit contributesto further thinning and energy-saving of the apparatus when it is usedas the LCD monitor 17.

[0033] The arrangement of various components inside the electronic imagepickup apparatus 1 constructed in this manner is described below.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a body of this electronic image pickupapparatus 1 is formed in a nearly flat shape having principal planes inwhich a front side and a back side thereof have comparatively largeareas. A picture-taking lens barrel 12 holding a picture-taking lenssystem 13 is provided at a predetermined position that is a little tothe right from the central vicinity of the front side as viewed from thefront of the electronic image pickup apparatus 1. An imager 21 isprovided behind this picture-taking lens barrel 12 which has its imagepickup plane trained toward the front (not shown in FIGS. 2 to 4). Dueto this arrangement, a subject image condensed by the picture-takinglens system 13 is imaged on the image pickup plane of the image 21. Inaddition, for example, a lens system composed of a single focus lenssystem having a single focal distance is used as the picture-taking lenssystem 13.

[0035] A finder optical system 14 for observing the subject image anddetermining an image pickup range and the like at the time of an imagepickup operation by the apparatus 1 is provided inside the body on theupper side thereof near the picture-taking lens barrel 12. This finderoptical system 14 is an optical system composed of object and ocularlenses, a prism, and the like, and is formed with an optical systemdifferent from the picture-taking lens system 13. Therefore, so as toreduce discrepancy between an observation range of an image includingthe subject image by the finder optical system 14 and an image pickuprange of an image to be actually picked up by the picture-taking lenssystem 13, that is, parallax, the finder optical system 14 is arrangednear the picture-taking lens barrel 12.

[0036] In addition, the LCD monitor 17 can reproduce and display imagedata recorded on the recording medium 11 after image pickup by theapparatus 1 as an image, and is arranged substantially at the center ofthe back side of the body of the apparatus 1 with its image displayscreen located on the back side so as to be parallel to the principalplane of the body of the apparatus 1. This LCD monitor 17 can reproduceand display the image data recorded as an image at the time of areproducing operation, and further has a role as a finder for observingthe subject image similarly to the optical system 14 and determining animage pickup range and the like. A plurality of operating switches (notshown) for commanding functions at the time of using the LCD monitor 17are provided in the vicinity of the LCD monitor 17.

[0037] Inside the body of the apparatus 1, two large electrical boards,that is, a front electrical board 2 and a rear electrical board 3 arearranged in parallel to each other while being spaced apart at apredetermined interval so as to be parallel to the principal plane ofthe body. Both electrical boards 2 and 3 are electrically connected toeach other by a relay board 4 through connectors 19 a and 19 b ( FIG. 3)mounted at predetermined positions on the respective boards.

[0038] The electrical board 2 has a shape which avoids thepicture-taking lens barrel 12. Thus, the electrical board 2 is formedwith a notch for making it possible to avoid interference with thepicture-taking lens barrel 12. FIG. 2 shows the electrical board 2 witha partially broken away portion for showing a power supply battery 18which will be described later.

[0039] Here, a plurality of electrical parts at both the left and rightsides as viewed from the front of the electronic image pickup apparatus1 can be provided in an arrangement which sandwiches the picture-takinglens barrel 12. For example, two electrical boards arranged on both theleft and right sides of the picture-taking lens barrel 12, and aconnecting member and the like such as a harness for transferringelectrical signals is provided between these two electrical boards.

[0040] In the electronic image pickup apparatus of this embodiment, theelectrical board 2 is formed having the shape described above, that is,a shape for avoiding the picture-taking lens barrel 12. In analternative arrangement, it is possible to omit the connecting membersuch as the harness in a case in which two electrical boards arearranged at both the left and right sides of the picture-taking lensbarrel 12. Hence, in this embodiment, it is possible to more efficientlyuse an inside space of the apparatus 1.

[0041] In addition, components such as memory card slot 6 including acard I/F and the like, a strobe circuit 31, a switching circuit 32 ofthe power supply routes, and a DC/DC converter 33 are mounted on thefront electrical board 2 (not shown in FIGS. 2 to 4; refer to FIG. 1).Furthermore, an external power input terminal 9 is provided at apredetermined position that is near the bottom of a right side surfaceas viewed from the front of the body. A terminal portion of thisexternal power input terminal 9 is provided so as to be exposed to theexterior of the apparatus on the right side of the body of the apparatus1. Hence, a power cable for supplying power from an external source canbe connected to this terminal port.

[0042] In addition, for example, the picture-taking circuit 22, systemcontroller 34, LCD driver 26, video I/F 30, serial I/F 28, and the likeare mounted on the rear electrical board 3 (not shown in FIGS. 2 to 4;refer to FIG. 1). Furthermore, the video connecting terminal 7 andserial connecting terminal 8 are provided at predetermined positionsthat are on the right side near the bottom surface as viewed from thefront of the body. Terminal portions of these connecting terminals 7 and8, similarly to the external power input terminal 9, are provided so asto be exposed to the exterior of the apparatus on the right side of thebody of the apparatus 1. Hence, connection cables for connecting theapparatus 1 to predetermined external equipment can be connected tothese terminal ports.

[0043] A screw hole 10 that is a member for attaching a tripod isprovided in a space that is surrounded by the front and rear electricalboards 2 and 3, and near the external power input terminal 9, videoconnecting terminal 7, and serial connecting terminal 8, and is part ofa bottom side of the body of the apparatus 1.

[0044] Usually, it is common to use the screw hole 10 to attach a tripodwhen a picture-taking operation is performed with the electronic imagepickup apparatus 1 and the like mounted on the tripod. When mounted onthe tripod, the electronic image pickup apparatus 1 is supported only bya member (a part of the exterior member on the bottom side) near thescrew hole 10 for attaching the tripod, and hence the load isconcentrated on this part.

[0045] In addition, the load generated when the power cables orconnecting cables are attached or detached also concentrates on anexterior member in the vicinity of the video connecting terminal 7 andserial connecting terminal 8 for performing connection to externalequipment, and of the external power input terminal 9 for supplyingpower from an external power supply.

[0046] In a regular apparatus similar to the apparatus 1, it is known toform the exterior member near the screw hole 10 for attaching a tripod,the external power input terminal 9, the video connecting terminal 7,the serial connecting terminal 8, and the like so that the exteriormember has a higher strength than other parts of the apparatus.

[0047] In the electronic image pickup apparatus of this embodiment,members to which external forces are more likely to be applied, that is,the screw hole 10 for attaching a tripod, the external power inputterminal 9, the video connecting terminal 7, the serial connectingterminal 8, and the like are arranged so as to be concentrated togetherin one area of the apparatus, as seen in FIG. 4. At the same time, theexterior member is formed to have a higher strength than other parts.

[0048] On the other hand, the strobe unit 37 ( FIG. 1) in the apparatus1 is arranged at a predetermined position inside the body to the rightas viewed from the front. A strobe unit is provided in which the strobeflashing unit 15 can freely pop up from and pop back down into the body,that is, a so-called popup type strobe unit 37. When the strobe unit 37becomes necessary at the time of picture-taking, the strobe flashingunit 15 interlocks with a power-on operation of the main power SW andthe like, and pops up on the upper side of the body. In addition, theunit is arranged so that, in the popup state (the state shown in FIGS. 2and 4), a flashing surface of the strobe flashing unit 15 faces thefront of the apparatus.

[0049] Furthermore, a capacitor 16 for strobe flashing has a nearlycylindrical shape and is arranged in a space under the strobe flashingunit 15 that is, a space between the front and rear electrical boards 2and 3, and a space between the lens barrel 12 and an internal right sidewall of the body so that the axial direction of the capacitor 16 may beparallel to the component sides of both of the electrical boards 2 and 3and may be perpendicular to the bottom surface of the body.

[0050] On the other hand, a battery chamber for containing a pluralityof power supply batteries 18 is provided at a predetermined position tothe left as viewed from the front of the apparatus 1, and in a spacebetween the front and rear electrical boards 2 and 3 so that the axialdirection of the plurality of power supply batteries may be parallel tothe component sides of both of the electrical boards 2 and 3. Insidethis battery chamber, four dry cells having substantially cylindricalshapes can be contained in a row without overlapping each other.Furthermore, the battery chamber is formed so that the axial directionof the plurality of power supply batteries 18 to be contained inside thebattery chamber may be substantially perpendicular to the bottom surfaceof the body of the apparatus 1.

[0051] Moreover, an opening (not shown) for making it possible to insertor remove the power supply batteries 18 contained in the battery chamberis provided in the bottom part of the body. A battery chamber lid (notshown) for opening and closing this opening is rotatably provided in anexterior member on the bottom side of the body.

[0052] In addition, a relay board 4 is arranged in a space between thepower supply batteries 18 and lens barrel 12 and connected through theconnectors 19 a and 19 b to both the electrical boards 2 and 3.

[0053] Furthermore, an insertion opening for making it possible toinsert and remove the recording medium 11 such as a memory card, isprovided at a predetermined position toward the front on the left sideas viewed from the front of the apparatus 1. The memory card slot 6 andthis opening communicate with each other inside the body.

[0054] Moreover, an operation board 5 is provided at a predeterminedposition toward the upper surface of the apparatus 1. For example,contacts of the operating switches 36, the mode LCD 35, a microcomputer(not shown) for controlling circuits in an operation system, and thelike are mounted on this operation board 5.

[0055] In addition, in FIGS. 2 to 4, a lens protection member, not shownand which covers the front side of the picture-taking lens system 13when the electronic image pickup apparatus is in a non-picture-takingstate, for example, a state of non-use of reproduction, is provided soas to be slidable in the direction parallel to the principal plane atthe front side of the body, that is, the width direction of the body ofthe electronic image pickup apparatus 1.

[0056] Usually, the external power input terminal 9, the videoconnecting terminal 7, the serial connecting terminal 8, and the likeprovided toward the bottom surface at the right side of the body are notused in normal picture-taking. Therefore, a protective lid member (notshown) covering the external power input terminal 9, the videoconnecting terminal 7, the serial connecting terminal 8, and the like,so as to prevent dust and dirt from entering into these terminals to theinside of the apparatus 1 is provided so as to be rotatable on anexterior member of the body.

[0057] As described above, according to the above-described embodiment,two large electrical boards, that is, the front and rear electricalboards 2 and 3 are provided so that the electrical boards 2 and 3 areparallel to the principal plane of the body of the apparatus, and largecomponents such as the power supply battery 18, and capacitor 16 forstrobe flashing are efficiently arranged in a space between theelectrical boards 2 and 3. Hence, it is possible to realizeminiaturization of the electronic image pickup apparatus 1 by securingthe necessary areas occupied by electric boards.

[0058] In addition, the screw hole 10 for attaching a tripod is arrangedby effectively using a space for providing the plurality of connectingterminals, that is, the external power input terminal 9, the videoconnecting terminal 7, the serial connecting terminal 8, and the like.Therefore, it is possible to realize the miniaturization of theelectronic image pickup apparatus 1. Furthermore, by arranging thecomponents on which forces concentrate in the same area, it becomes easyto secure a predetermined strength, and it is possible to simplify theproduction process steps of the exterior members of the body. Hence, itis possible to contribute to the reduction of production costs of theapparatus.

[0059] Furthermore, in the electronic image pickup apparatus 1, adetachable medium such as a memory card is used as the recording medium11. To accommodate the recording medium, the memory card slot 6 isprovided in the body of the apparatus 1.

[0060] In one alternative construction of the invention, for example, itis conceivable that a memory fixed in the inside of the body of theelectronic image pickup apparatus 1 is used as the recording medium 11.In this case, since the memory card slot 6 including the card I/Fbecomes unnecessary, the fixed memory and the like can be mounted on acomponent side of the front electrical board 2 at the location otherwiseoccupied by the slot 6. With this embodiment, it is possible to obtainthe same effects as those in the above-described embodiment.

[0061] It is apparent that a wide range of different working modes canbe formed on the basis of the present disclosure without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the present invention. The present invention istherefore not restricted by any specific embodiment except being limitedby the appended claims.

What is claimed:
 1. An electronic image pickup apparatus that converts asubject image imaged by an image-taking optical system into anelectrical signal using an imager provided behind a picture-taking lensbarrel, comprising: a generally flattened, apparatus body having aprincipal body plane that is associated with and generally aligned witha front side of the apparatus; first and second electrical boards havingrespective component sides oriented substantially parallel to theprincipal body plane of the apparatus, the first and second electricalboards being spaced apart at a predetermined interval to create a space;the lens barrel extending generally perpendicularly to the principalbody plane; a plurality of power supply batteries arranged in the spacebetween the electrical boards so that an axial direction of theplurality of power supply batteries is parallel to the component sidesof the electrical boards and the batteries extend in a row withoutoverlapping one another; and a relay board arranged in the space andconnecting the electrical boards.
 2. An electronic image pickupapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a strobe flashingunit arranged on an upper surface of the body; and a capacitor forstrobe flashing that is arranged in a space under the strobe flashingunit and between the lens barrel and an internal side wall of the body.3. An electronic image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a plurality of connecting terminals installed atpredetermined positions on the electrical boards and arranged so that apart of each of the plurality of connecting terminals is exposed to theexterior of the apparatus through a side of the body; and a member forattachment of a tripod that is arranged in a space surrounded by theplurality of connecting terminals and located on a bottom part of thebody.
 4. An electronic image pickup apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the location of the relay board is bounded by the electricalboards, the lens barrel, and the power supply batteries.
 5. Anelectronic image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising an image memory board having a main body plane that extendssubstantially parallel to the principal body plane of the apparatus, thememory board being positioned in a space between the front side of theapparatus and the electrical boards.
 6. An electronic image pickupapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a battery chamber inwhich the plurality of batteries are located and a battery chamber lidprovided at a bottom side of the apparatus body.
 7. An electronic imagepickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reflectiveliquid crystal display unit disposed at a rear side of the body of theapparatus.